Internal-combustion engine



E. E. PENTER.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR I8, 19!?- Patented May III), 1921.

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INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION F| LED APR. 18. 191.7.

Patented May MI 1921.

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ELI E. PENTER, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-FIFTH T0 CHARLES E. SEIBEBJT, 015 DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

INTERNAL-GOMBUSTION ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May Jltl, 1921.

Application filed April 18, 1917. Serial No. 162,984.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELI E. PENTER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Internal- Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to internal combustion engines and comprises the novel cycle and novel construction as hereinafter set forth. It is the primary object of the invention to obtain great flexibility, maintenance of uniform combustion conditions through out the power range of the engine and under varying loads and speeds, high efiiciency and high power with a simple construction, which dispenses with many parts usually necessary and which is easily manufactured at low cost. More specifically, the invention has among its objects the accurate metering of the air and fuel forming the combustible mixture, the maintenance of uniform compression under varying loads, the introduction of a uniform weight of air into the engine cylinder during each cycle and the separation of a portion of the air so introduced for mixing with the fuel, maintaining the separation during explosion and the working stroke. A further feature is the thorough scavenging of the products of combustion from the cylinder and the utilization of the air not required for the combustible mixture as a resilient cushion, absorbing a portion of the initial impulse and delivering its power later in the working stroke.

In structure my invention comprises essentially a cylinder, a piston therein and a movable or floating piston, together with means for introducing a fixed weight of air on one side of the latter piston and transferring a variable portion thereof to the opposite side for commingling with the fuel. My invention also has reference to various other specific structural features as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through an engine embodying my invention; and

Figs. 2 to 11 are diagrams showing successive positions during the cycle.

As shown, A is the cylinder, B the piston therein, C the connecting rod, D the crank and the crank-casing. The cylinder A contains in addition to the piston B a floatmg piston F which is movable independently of the piston B and from a position in substantial contact therewith to various positions within the cylinder. The inlet for the air is on the opposite side of the floating piston from the piston and is preferably controlled by an automatic valve G. There is also provided a bypass or transfer passage H which in certain positions of the floating piston permits of the transference of a POl' tion of the air into the space between the floating piston and piston. As specifically shown, the floating piston forms the valve controlling this by-pass, being provided with a shell portion T which cooperates with ports J, and K opening into the cylinder. The shell I is of greater length on one side than the other, so that by rotatively adjusting the floating piston the cut-off of the port J may be varle The fuel is introduced into the cylinder in measured quantities proportionate to the quantity of air transferred through the bypass H, and is preferably commingled with the air during its transfer. Any suitable means may be employed for meterin and introducin 'the fuel into the passage but as shown is' a chamber containing the liquid fuel, M is a rod extending through the chamber Ti and into the pasage H, and N is a sleeve on a reduced portion U of the rod M with its outer face flush with the larger diameter of said rod said sleeve being slidable on the portion (5 with a limited lost-motion. Thev arrangement is such that an annular space P between the end of the sleeve and the shoulder Q of the rod when in the chamber L will be filled with the liquid fuel and during the upward movement of the rod, which is actuated by suitable drive connections with the engine, will be carried into the passage H, while on the downward movement of the rod the liquid fuel will be ejected by the temporary delay in movement of the sleeve N until the lostmotion is taken up. The lever N threadedly engages the portion 0 of the rod M and abuts against the sleeve N for varying the amount 0 lost-motion, to thereby vary the quantity of liquid fuel introduced into the passage H and proportioning it to the quantity of air transferred. The cylinder A is provided with exhaust ports Rwhich are uncovered at the end of the movement of the piston, and an auxiliary exhaust port S is controlled by a mechanically-actuated and timed valve T, preferably carried by the rod M. There is also" provided means for placing a diiferential pressure upon the opposite faces of said floating piston when the pressure of the gases in contact therewith are substantially equal, so that the floatingpiston will be caused to move away from the piston. As shown, this means comprises a small cylinder V in alinement with the cylinder A and containing a piston W which is connected by a rod X to the floating piston F. The cylinder V is connected by a conduit Y with the conduit U so that the pressure within said cylinder is equal to the pressure at which air is admitted to the cylinder A.

With the construction as thus far described, the operation is as follows: The air which is introduced into the cylinder is preferably at more than atmospheric pressure and is derived from any suitable source of supply, such as the conduit U connected to the inlet passage controlled by the valve G. Assuming the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, the piston B is in a position upon its upward stroke where the main exhaust ports and auxiliary exhaust ports S are covered and the floating piston F is in substantial contact with the upper end of the piston. The automatic valve G is also open, and it may be asumed that the air from the conduit U at a predetermined pressure, such for instance as fifteen pounds above atmospheric, fills the cylinder above the floating piston. During the continued upward stroke of the piston the air within the cylinder will be further compressed, closing the valve G, as shown in Fig. 3, and the compression will continue until the piston and floating piston reach the point shown in Fig. 4. Herejthe port K is in communication with the space between the piston and floating piston, permitting access of the highly-compressed air to the lower face of the floating piston and thereby balancing the pressure upon opposite sides of said floating piston. When this is accomplished the pressure exerted upon the piston W by the air within the cylinder V will move the floating piston upward away from the piston B, as shown in Fig. 5, there by causing the air to flow around through the bypass H and during its passage to pick upthe liquid fuel to form an explosive mixture. This will continue until the shell I of the floating piston cuts off the port H, preventing further transfer and separating the chamber above the floating piston from that below, as shown in Fig. ,6. The explosive charge is then ignited, as indicated in Fig. 7, and the pressure developed in the explosion chamber will cause the further upward movement of the floating piston F, increasing the pressure of the air above the floating piston while the pressure below is decreasing due to expansion until the two pressures are equal, the floating piston being in the position indicated in Fig. 8. At the same time the piston begins its working stroke and as the pressure within the explosion chamber is decreased by expansion, the floating piston will be moved downward so that the power stored in its upward movement will be given back during the working stroke. Furthermore, the heat of explosion which passes through the floating piston will be communicated to the compressed air thereabove and will be utilized in further expanding the air. When the piston reaches apoint for opening the exhaust ports R, as indicated in Fig. 9, the pressure below the floating piston will rapidly drop and the pressure above will cause a movement of said floating piston toward the piston. This will continue until the exhaust ports R are fully opened (Fig. 10) and are again sealed by the upward movement of the piston, at which time the auxiliary exhaust port S is opened by the valve T to permit the further exhaustion of the rema'inlng gases between the floating piston and piston, as shown in Fig. 11. There will, however, remain a suflicient amount of gas between these members to form a cushion, preventing any sudden impact of the one upon the other but permitting them to move into close proximity, as indicated in Fig. 2, which completes the cycle.

It will be obvious that the power may be varied by changing the point of cut-ofl' so that a larger or smaller amount of air is transferred through the bypass H and by correspondingly varying the quantity of fuel introduced into the by-pass. It is also possible to vary the pressure at which the air is admitted to the cylinder, and as the pressure of the air within the cylinder above the floating piston is always higher than atmospheric, the combustion gases may be exhausted at a higher than atmospheric pressure and may be utilized for developing further power through any suitable mechanism (not shown).

From the above description it will be readily seen that I have provided a construction of engine in which the weights of air and fuel can be accurately measured; in which the cylinder is mechanically cleared of burned gases by means of the floating piston; and in which the by-pass for transferring the air from the back to the front side of the floating piston may be used as a mixing chamber and the fuel fed into this mixing chamber after the air has been heated by compression. Furthermore, an almost ideal shape for the combustion chamber is provided, 'since the combustion takes place in the space between the piston and the floating piston. A portion of the heat of combustion is transferred to the air upon the opposite side of the floating piston and is utilized during the expansion stroke and this air also acts as a cushion to absorb the hammer-like blow of the explosion, thereby relieving the working parts of the excessive strains, due to the peak pressures.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a cylinder, of a piston and a separately-movable piston therein, means for introducing air into said cylinder when said separately movable piston is adjacent to said piston and for compressing the air by the joint movement of said pistons, means for simultaneously separating said separately movable piston from said piston and transferring a portion of the compressed air to the space between the same, and means for introducing fuel with the transferred air and igniting the same, the force of explosion moving said separately movable piston to further compress the air to an equal pressure, and the pressure of both the air and combustion gases reacting upon the firstmentioned piston in the working stroke.

2. In an internal combustion engine, the

combination with a cylinder, a piston and a separately-movable piston therein, of means for introducing air into said cylinder while said last-mentioned piston is adjacent to said first-mentioned piston and for compressing the air by the joint movement of said pistons, means for simultaneously sepa rating said separately-movable piston from said first-mentioned piston and transferring a portion of the compressed air to the space air and combustion gases being utilized in the working stroke, and means for exhausting the products of explosion to permit the approach of the pistons, a portion of the exhaust being trapped to form a cushion.

3. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a cylinder, a piston and a I separately-movable piston therein, of means for introducing air into said cylinder while said last-mentioned piston is adjacent to said first-mentioned piston and for compressing the air by the joint movement of said pistons, means for simultaneously separating said pistons and transferring a portion of the compressed air to the space therebetween, means for introducing fuel into the transferred air and igniting the same, the force of explosion reacting upon said separately-movable piston to equalize the pressure of air and gas, both ope ating expansively during the working stroke, ports uncovered by the movement of the piston to exhaust the products of explosion, and an auxiliary exhaust operating during the return stroke of the piston for permitting the same to approach said separatelymovable piston, a cushion of gas being maintained therebetween.

4. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a cylinder, a piston and a separately-movable piston therein, of means for introducing air into said cylinder while said separately-movable piston is adjacent to said piston and for compressing the air by the joint movement of said piston and separately-movable piston, means for simultaneously separating said pistons and for transferring a portion of the compressed air to the space therebetween, means for introducing fuel into the transfer passage proportionate to the quantity of air transferred, means for igniting the explosive mixture, the force of explosion reacting upon said separately-movable piston compressing the air thereabove to the point of equalization with the gas therebeneath, and both air and gas operating expansively during the Working stroke, and means for exhausting the products of combustion to permit the reapproach of said pistons and the scavenging of the cylinder thereby.

5. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a cylinder, a piston and a floating piston therein, of means for intro ducing air into said cylinder at more than -variable portion of the compressed air to the space therebetween, means for commingling with the transferred air a proportionate quantity of fuel, means for igniting the explosive mixture, the force of explosion reacting upon said floating piston and aircushion to equalizethe pressure of air and combustion gases, both operating expan-- sively during the working stroke of the first mentioned piston, means for exhausting the products of combustion to drop the pressure thereof to less than the introduction pressure of air, and an automatic valve permitting the admision of air and the movement of the floating piston thereby again into adjacence to the first-mentioned piston.

6. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a cylinder, of a main piston and a floating piston in said cylinder, said floating piston being movable independently of said main piston, means for introducing'air into said cylinder when said floating piston is adjacent to said main piston near the end of the power stroke, a bypass provided With ports separated longitudinally of said cylinder and connecting into the Wall thereof, said floating piston adapted to close each of said ports, and means for introducing fuel into said by-pass.

7 In an internal combustion engine, the combination'with a cylinder, of a main piston and a floating piston in said cylinder, means for introducing air into said cylinder, a by-pass provided with ports separated longitudinally of said cylinder and opening into the Wall thereof, said floating piston adapted to close said ports, means rotatably 15 In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. 20

ELI E. PENTER. 

